LARGE 1930s French Art Deco Opalescent Glass Bowl by Pierre d’Avesn. Signed

In the history of moulded glass techniques, nobody could ever argue with the mind-set of Rene Lalique, the unquestionable genius and the very reason of all who then followed, inspired by his performance.

It is incredible and also astonishing when one considers that Lalique himself was well into his 50s when his first recognisable vase & bowl patterns & designs were introduced for example, many years following his success as a Jeweller and perfume bottle designer maker.

d'Avesn however worked for Lalique from aged just 14 years, and by aged 24 years had designed many of Laliques famous pieces: `Tourbillons' and `Serpent' perhaps being the most desirable and highly priced models even to this day.

d'Avesn undeniably did much more than simply contributing to the glass-making world of his era... He was paramount with establishing it.

By aged aged 29 years he was Manager & principal designer at `Daum Freres' at their Croismare glassworks in Luneville in France, where he remained until c1936. One year later he took over the Management of `Verlys' until the outbreak of WWII c1940 and still aged just 39 years... This man was a genius as is evident by the incredible works he left behind, not only for other glass factories but also as a freelance at Cristallerie de Choisy-le-Roi (Sèvres).

d'Avesn `IS UP THERE' with the likes of R Lalique, Sabino and any other glass working genius of the 20th century and this stunning bowl proves that with abundance...

The interior of the bowl has been highly fire polished. Only the underside has been moulded with pattern, and what a beautiful pattern it truly is. I liken its appearance to that of a billowing-pleated canopy, or a parasol of opalescent silk, that radiates outwards from a hexagonal central, which culminates to form a wonderful stepped-rim. Crisp moulded lines & ribs of opalescent glass, fan outwards like a burst of golden-milky-blue sun-rays, with hints of pastel purple. It is stunning.

As can be seen by my photographs, the d'Avesn signature is also crisply defined. There is no mistaking who produced this gorgeous opalescent glass bowl... The condition is close to mint. As is also shown, is the tiniest shell-flake flea-bite to the inner rim of the base, and that is all. It is a gem of a bowl for your collection, and its scarcity of pattern & form makes this piece a very wise investment indeed...